Effects of thalidomide, cyclosporine, and diclofenac on skin allograft survival in rabbits

The present study evaluated the effects of thalidomide, cyclosporine, and diclofenac on skin allograft survival in 42 rabbits divided into the following groups ( n = 6): group 1, autograft control; group 2, allograft control; group 3, allografts under thalidomide (100 mg/kg/d); group 4, allografts under sodium diclofenac (2 mg/kg/d); group 5, allografts under cyclosporine (10 mg/kg/d); group 6, allografts under cyclosporine (5 mg/kg/d); group 7, allografts under cyclosporine (5 mg/kg/d) plus thalidomide (100 mg/kg/d). The drugs were given via the orogastric tube the day before transplantation and daily during the postoperative period. Total circular skin grafts from the ear were exchanged between California and White New Zealand rabbits. Cyclosporine (10 mg/kg/d) increased allograft survival, an effect that was comparable to cyclosporine (5 mg/kg/d) plus thalidomide (100 mg/kg/d). Thalidomide and diclofenac given alone had minimally significant effects on the mean survival of skin allografts. The number of eosinophils around the necrotic skin was higher in the diclofenac group. The group receiving cyclosporine combined with thalidomide displayed the lowest number of eosinophils surrounding the allograft. In conclusion, the combination of thalidomide and cyclosporine in subtherapeutic doses may be useful for the treatment of skin allografts.